Ward robe-bedstead



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

3.. F. MEISSNER.

WARDROBE BBDSTBAD.

IND-266,86fiq, 2. Patented Oct. 31, 1882.

NY PETERS, Pholwbulngnphca Wading 1111 C UNITED STATES PATENT @rricn,

ROBERT F. MEISSNER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WARDROBE-BEDSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,860, dated October 31, 1882.

Application filed August ll, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, ROBERT F. MEISSNER, of Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in iVardrobe-Bedsteads; and I do hereby declare that. the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention consists in certain improvements in wardrobe or folding bedsteads, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the aocompanyingdrawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of the wardrobebedstead as extended to be used; Fig. 2, a sectional and detail view of the adjustable spring attachmentl'or counterbalancingthebed-body; Fig. 3, a perspective view of one of the helical springs; Fig. 4, an interior perspective view of one side and the corner of the bed-body. showing the pivotal connection of a foot while in its vertical position; Fig. 5, a similar view with the foot partly folded; Fi 6, perspective views of the hook end of the connecting-rod and of the hinged edge of the foot; Fig. 7, a similar view of the pivotal end of one side of the bed-body; Fig. 8, a side elevation of the wardrobe with the bed-body extended; Fig. 9, a sectional elevation of the same when folded to siinulatea wardrobe; Fig. 10, a cross-section through the cornice or canopy, with an interior elevation of the supporting-bracket; and Fig. 11, sectional plans of the simulated wardrobe atone side, with the bed-body extended and the sectional doors forming the head-board, and at the other side with the bed-body in its vertical position and with the doors folded around it.

Corresponding letters in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

A denotes the base, B B the upright, and O the cornice or canopy, which are detachably connected together by dowel-pins a and bolts 1), and D is the rear frame, which is detachably secured between the uprights B and B byjointbolts 0, all in a manner that the entire casing, when taken apart, forms five pieces that can be readily put together again. The frame D is formed with six openings, (Z d d (1 the lower three, d, and theupper central one, (1, of which are closed by panels, while the upper side open ings, (Z d, are left open to act as ventilators for the bedding while the bed-body is closed in by the wardrobe. The uprights B B are each widened toward the base for pivoting the bed-body and to form the sides fora receptacle, E, having a hinged lid, 0, for storing the sheeting. The tops of the uprights B and B have bracketsffor better supporting the cornice or canopy O.

F and G are doors connected by hinges g,

and doors F, again, are connected by hinges It to the uprights B B in a manner that such doors F can be either folded upon the inside of the uprights B and B, when the doors G will fold against and close the openings (1 d of the back or head-board D; or when swung outward the doors F will form a straight continuation of the uprights B B, when the doors G will fold over and conceal the verticallyplaced bed-body. The top corner of doors F, nextto the standards B B, is cutout in confortnity with bracketsf to make a close joint therewith, and such bracketsf are made interiorly projecting, with a rearward extension of corresponding shape, in a manner that the doors F, when swung inward upon or against the uprights B, will be flush with such bracketextension and will form a close jointtherewith.

1 is the body of the bed, consisting of a rectangular frame that is composed of two end pieces, t i, and side rails, i i", and of four longitudinal bars, j j, and two cross-bars, k it, framed to each other and to the under edge of the end pieces, 1' t" and side rails, i P, in a manner to form nine square and rectangular openings, I, Z, Z Z and l. The openings 1 and l are to be closed by panels, and the opening 1 is to form the l'rainefor a mirror, and the openings l and will be closed by the door Gr while the bed-body occupies an upright position, and its bottom forms part of the front of the apparent wardrobe. This frame, composed of the barsj and It, will at the, same time furnish the support for the mattress. The side rails, i i at their inward ends are provided with pivotal plates at, that are cut away at one corner to provide an inlet for the pivotstuds n, which project from the inward faces of uprights B and B. The studs a, next to their projecting pivot portion, are squared for attaching helical springs J, and thence they are fitted into plates IJ, that are sunk into the uprights B and secured by wood-screws. Into one plate L the stud n is secured rigid, and into the other or opposite plate L the stud n is fitted pivotally', and is squared again exteriorly of this plate L for attaching a ratchetwheel, M, and with a sufficiently square projection for turning such stud by a wrench. The end loops of the helical springs J are coupled to the bed-body by a stud, 0, secured thereto, and the ratchet-wheel is locked bya pawl, 19, that is pivotally secured to plate L. The helical spring J on one side of the bedbody is thus set permanently to the required tension for' counterbalancing about one-half the weight of the bed-body, while the tension of the spring on the opposite side can be adjusted by the ratchet-wheel and pawl to coun terbalance the remaining weight, and can be varied for more or less weight, as for summer or winter bedding.

It will be readily understood that in extending or lowering the bed-body both springs will be contracted proportionally as the weight by leverage increases, and that in raising the bedbody to assume a vertical position the' tension of such springs will be released again. With this device the springs do not take up any extra room, besides the advantage that their tension can be adjusted from the outside and withoutextending the bed-body ortaking apart the apparent wardrobe.

The legs R to the foot end of the bed-body I are connected interiorly to the corner-posts q, each by a hinge, r, so as to fold inwardly, and that when in perpendicular position the end piece c of the bed-body I will rest upon it. The inward heel of each leg It is provided with a loop, '8, that engages with a hook, t, of rod N. These rods N are placed into longitudinal grooves in the inside faces of rails i" 11 of the bed-body, and are pivotally connected at their opposite ends each to a lever, P, that is pivotally secured against the internal face of such side rails in a position that the fulcrum of each lever P is in line with the pivot-studs n. The opposite ends of these leversPare coupled to the ends of studs a, which are secured to the uprights B B, and project through segmental slots of the side rails, t By this arrangement the legs R will automatically turn into the bodyot' thebed with raising such bed to its vertical position, and with extending or lowering the bed'body such legs will be caused to assume a vertical position, and will be held rigidly in such position While the bed is placed in condition to be occupied. The great advantage of this device is that no accident can happen, as has been the case with similar folding beds,in which the feet would turn from under on their own accord, when the weight of the bed-body and of the occupant would tip the bed and upset the wardrobe, to fall upon the occupant.

As will be noticed, the entire construction and arrangement of the above-described wardrobe-bedstead are such that it can be handled easily, that when closed it has the appearance of a well-proportioned wardrobe or book-case, and that when extended it forms an elegant and comfortable bed. The mechanism that connects the several devices compiled in this bedstead is simple and perfect and not'so liable to get out of order.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the-pivotal bedbody I, of the wardrobe-shaped receptacle composed of sections that consist of base A, uprights BB, canopyU, and back frame, D, detachably connected by dowels a and bolts 1) and c, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The pivotal bed-body I, having bottom frame, j 70, with panels l l, in combination with the wardrobe shaped receptacle that forms the head of the bed-body, and consists of base A, uprights B B, canopy G, and back frame, D, with panels at d, and with the two section folding doors F and G, hinged together 'and to the uprights B in the manner to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a wardrobe-bedstead, the uprights B, having brackets f for better supporting the canopy O, and the doors F, that are hinged to the uprights,made to fit against such brackets f, all substantially as described and shown.

4. In a wardrobebedstead, the fulcrumstuds n, secured to uprights B B for pivotally supporting the bed-body I, said studs being secured to the inner ends of helical springs, J, the exterior ends of which are connected with studs 0, secured to the bed-bodyI for counterbalancing such bed-body while being raised or lowered, the same being constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.

5. In a wardrobe-bedstead, the fulcrumstud n,pivotally secured in plate L, that is attached to upright B, carrying ratchet-wheel M, that is locked by pawl 19, and helical spring J, that is connected to bed-body I by stud 0, the whole being constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

6. In a wardrobe-bedstead, the bed body I, having legs R connected thereto by hinges 1", and having loops 3 for coupling hooks t of rods N, that are again connected to levers P, such levers P being pivotally secured to the side rails of the bed-body I, with their upper ends connected to studs u, that are rigid with the uprights B, and projected through a segmental slot in such side rails of the bed-body, all substantially as described and shown, for the purpose specified.

In testimony thatI claim theforegoing as my invention I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT F. MEISSNER.

Witnesses:

G. HUZEL, E. G. WEsTLAKE. 

